Hand held bar code dataform reader having a rotatable reading assembly

Abstract

A bar code dataform reader. The reader includes a housing defining an interior region and supporting an exit window. A bar code dataform reading assembly is mounted on a rotatable support within the housing interior region. The reader further includes support rotating structure coupled to the support to facilitate external rotation of the support to a selected one of a plurality of positions. The reading assembly is selectively actuatable to read a bar code dataform and includes a light source component mounted on the support such that, for each of the plurality of support positions, a light beam emitted by the light source component exits the housing through the exit window in a different direction with respect to the housing.

We claim: 
     
       1. A bar code dataform reader comprising: a) a housing defining an interior region and including an exit window;   b) a rotatable support mounted in the housing interior region, the support being rotatable to a selected one of a plurality of support positions;   c) a bar code dataform reading assembly mounted on the support, the reading assembly being selectively actuatable to read a bar code dataform by emitting a beam of light; and   d) for each of the plurality of support positions, the beam of light emitted by the reading assembly exiting the housing through a different portion of the exit window along a different path of travel with respect to the housing and for at least two positions of the plurality of support positions, the beam of light exits the housing through spaced apart portions of the exit window.   
     
     
       2. A bar code dataform reader comprising: a) a housing defining an interior region and including a plurality of spaced apart exit windows;   b) a rotatable support mounted in the housing interior region, the support being rotatable to a selected one of a plurality of support positions;   c) a bar code dataform reading assembly mounted on the support, the reading assembly being selectively actuatable to read a bar code dataform by emitting a beam of light;   d) for each of the plurality of support positions, the beam of light emitted by the reading assembly exiting the housing through the exit window along a different path of travel with respect to the housing; and   e) wherein the light beam emitted by the reading assembly exits the housing through different exit windows in at least two of the support positions.   
     
     
       3. The bar code dataform reader of claim 2 further including a support rotating structure coupled to the rotatable support for rotating the support between the plurality of support positions. 
     
     
       4. The bar code dataform reader of claim 3 wherein the support rotating structure includes a turret coupled to the support and extending through an aperture in the housing and being rotatable external to the housing, the support being rotatable with the turret. 
     
     
       5. The bar code dataform reader of claim 4 wherein a sealing ring is disposed between the housing aperture and the turret. 
     
     
       6. A bar code dataform reader comprising: a) a housing defining an interior region and including an exit window;   b) a rotatable support mounted in the housing interior region, the support being rotatable to a selected one of a plurality of support positions;   c) a bar code dataform reading assembly mounted on the support, the reading assembly being selectively actuatable to read a bar code dataform by emitting a beam of light;   d) for each of the plurality of support positions, the beam of light emitted by the reading assembly exiting the housing through the exit window along a different path of travel with respect to the housing;   e) a support rotating structure coupled to the rotatable support for rotating the support between the plurality of support positions and including a turret coupled to the support and extending through an aperture in the housing and being rotatable external to the housing, the support being rotatable with the turret, an end of the turret extending exteriorly of the housing including a knob for rotating the turret, the knob including a raised portion forming an arrow which points generally along a path of travel of the light beam upon exiting the housing; and   f) a sealing ring disposed between the housing aperture and the turret.   
     
     
       7. The bar code dataform reader of claim 1 wherein the support includes a detent which engages one of a plurality of spaced apart indentations in a member affixed to the housing to releasably secure the support in the selected one of the plurality of support positions. 
     
     
       8. The bar code dataform reader of claim 1 additionally including a mirror mounted on the housing to fold the light beam in a direction transverse to a non-deflected direction of the beam. 
     
     
       9. The bar code dataform reader of claim 1 wherein the support is disposed at an acute angle with respect to a plane defined by the exit window. 
     
     
       10. The bar code dataform reader of claim 1 further including an actuation mechanism having at least one switch coupled to the reading assembly for selectively actuating the reading assembly. 
     
     
       11. The bar code dataform reader of claim 10 wherein the actuation mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart momentary switches extending through apertures in the housing and operable from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
       12. A bar code dataform reader comprising: a) a housing defining an interior region and including three spaced apart exit windows;   b) a rotatable support mounted in the housing interior region, the support being rotatable to a selected one of a plurality of support positions;   c) a bar code dataform reading assembly mounted on the support, the reading assembly being selectively actuatable to read a bar code dataform by emitting a beam of light;   d) for each of the plurality of support positions, the beam of light emitted by the reading assembly exiting the housing through the exit window along a different path of travel with respect to the housing.   
     
     
       13. The bar code dataform reader of claim 12 wherein adjacent exit windows are angularly displaced one from the other by substantially 90°. 
     
     
       14. A dataform reader comprising: a) A housing defining an interior region and including an exit window;   b) a rotatable support mounted in the housing interior region, the support being rotatable to a selected one of a plurality of support positions;   c) a dataform reading assembly mounted on the support, the reading assembly being selectively actuatable to read a dataform by emitting a beam of light;   d) for each of the plurality of support positions, the beam of light emitted by the reading assembly exiting the housing through the exit window along a different path of travel with respect to the housing; and   e) the support rotating structure including a motor which is coupled to the support and which rotates the support between at least two predetermined support positions of the plurality of support positions.   
     
     
       15. The dataform reader of claim 14 wherein the motor is a stepper motor including an output shaft and gear affixed thereto, the gear engaging and driving a toothed peripheral portion of the support to rotate the support between the plurality of support positions. 
     
     
       16. The dataform reader of claim 15 wherein a plurality of stepper motor actuation switches are provided, each switch when actuated energizing the stepper motor to move the support to a different predetermined one of the plurality of support positions. 
     
     
       17. A hand held dataform reader comprising: (a) a body portion configured to be held in an operator's hand, the body portion defining an interior region and having an exit window;   (b) a support rotatably mounted in the body portion interior region;   (c) a dataform reading mechanism affixed to the support, the mechanism being selectively actuatable to read a dataform through the exit window; and   (d) the support being selectively rotatable about an axis of rotation to a selected one of a plurality of support positions wherein at each position of the plurality of support positions the dataform reading mechanism reads a dataform through a different portion of the exit window, wherein in a first position of the plurality of support positions a dataform is read through a first portion of the exit window and in a second position of the plurality of support positions a dataform is read through a second portion of the exit window that is spaced apart from the first portion of the exit window.   
     
     
       18. The hand held dataform reader of claim 17 wherein the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body portion. 
     
     
       19. The hand held dataform reader of claim 18 wherein the exit window is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
       20. The hand held dataform reader of claim 17 wherein the exit window is substantially annular in shape and the plurality of support positions encompasses an angle of substantially 360°.